Easter favourites.

WORDS ROBERTA MUIR

CHOCOHOLICS ROAD TOUR

Watch your favourite Cadbury chockies being created at Hobart’s Cadbury Chocolate Factory and taste free samples. Cadbury Rd, Claremont, tel: + 61 (3) 6249 0333.

Adelaide institution Haigh’s Chocolates offers free tours explaining the chocolate-making process with a complimentary chocolate, tea or coffee afterwards. 154 Greenhill Rd, Parkside, tel: +61 (8) 8372 7077.

Discover Melbourne’s world of chocolate and desserts (including the decadent Koko Black chocolate shops) and its hidden lanes and arcades with

Chocoholic Walking Tours. Tel: +61 (3) 9686 4655. Or make your own Easter eggs at Cioccolatabella chocolate-making classes. 390 High St, Prahran, tel: +61 412 720 590.

Chocolate Espresso Walking Tours offers a range of tours around inner Sydney, sampling coffee from top baristas and superb chocolates along the way. Tel: +61 417 167 766.

In Perth, visit The Margaret River Chocolate Factory in Swan Hill for a free chocolate tasting, interactive displays and to see chocolates being made. 5123 West Swan Rd, West Swan, tel: +61 (8) 9250 1588.

SEVENTH HEAVEN

1. This year, we’re hoping the Easter Bunny delivers one of Hillier’s Ultimate Nut Eggs – giant, extra-thick chocolate eggs studded with either macadamias, almonds or whole hazelnuts. We’d also like one of their scrumptious half eggs, piled high with an indulgent Rocky Road combo of peanuts, marshmallow, coconut, cherry and chocolate. AU$9.95–$24.95. Available from department stores nationwide.

2. It’s hard to beat the warm fuzzy feeling you get from gobbling up Pink Lady’s Australiana chocolate bilby range, plus wombats, koalas and fun his ’n’ hers ‘city slicker’ bunnies. From AU$0.75 for 20g mini chocolate bunnies to AU$74.95 for a 1.25kg giant rabbit. Available from department stores nationwide.

3. Chocolatier’s Six-Pack Egg Selection including toffee crunch, pure white, milk and dark chocolate, strawberries and cream, and orange looks almost too pretty to eat (almost). AU$10.99. Available from department stores nationwide.

4. On the Gold Coast, check out SWEET at Ferry Rd Market for the largest selection of premium handmade chocolate (plus dozens of other sweet sticky confections) under one roof. Brickworks Centre, 107 Ferry Rd, Southport, tel: +61 (7) 5591 2944 .

5. Meet international chocolatier David Medlow Smith in his new Melbourne store on Easter Saturday (22 March) between 11am and 5pm where he’ll be dispensing free tastings of his divine chocolates and jellies. 26 Howey Plc, Melbourne, tel: +61 (3) 9654 5396.

6. For the chocolate gourmand after something different, check out speciality shops for the new Italian Amedei range: spectacular white chocolate with pistachios, milk chocolate with hazelnuts, and dark chocolate with almonds, as well as their individual ‘cru’ selection, each from a different cacao-producing region (including Ecuador, Jamaica and Madagascar). Call +61 (2) 9360 5068 for stockist info.

7. For a ‘healthy indulgence’, Artisse Premium Swiss chocolate is certified organic and includes a no-added-sugar range. In milk, extra dark or almond flavours, they’re available in supermarket health food aisles.